TLC's Sunday night two-hour premiere of Trading Spaces $100 Grand drew record numbers of viewers for the network, making it the highest-rated TLC program ever and setting several 2003 cable broadcast records.
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The special, which followed the $100,000 remodeling efforts of two pairs of homeowners with $50,000 each, drew 9.1 million total viewers. The Trading Spaces special even managed to tie ABC and CBS in primetime among women 25-54 and also was the highest-rated cable program of the year among all viewers 25-54 as well as women 18-34 and 18-49.
"These incredible numbers reflect the ongoing strength of TLC and the Trading Spaces brand," Roger Marmet, general manager, TLC, said. "We developed a must-see special that allowed us to own an important television night."
According to the Washington Post, the two-hour broadcast managed to beat the premiere of WB's "Tarzan" and "Charmed," the second episode of ABC's new police drama "10-8" and Jennifer Garner-lead "Alias," and NBC's "American Dreams." The program was the week's most watched cable program, drawing even better than ESPN's telecasts of the MLB playoffs, and among all TV shows (cable or broadcast) it ranked No. 50 for the week, with more viewers than the season finales of Fox's "Temptation Island" and "Paradise Hotel" (the former being no surprise, but still noteworthy.)
In Trading Spaces $100 Grand, two pairs of homeowners received a whopping $50,000 each to transform one room in their neighbors' house. Designers Doug Wilson and Laurie Smith broke the bank as they pampered these two Plymouth, Massachusetts rooms with lush fabrics, lavish furnishings and luxury accoutrements. The special premiered Sunday, October 5 at 8PM ET/PT. The two-hour spectacular was sponsored by Home Depot, HomeMadeSimple.com and Sony, as well as Toyota Motor Sales and GMC Truck.
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The Trading Spaces $100 Grand special will repeat on Saturday, October 11 from 7-9PM ET/PT. Trading Spaces $100 Grand was co-produced by TLC and Banyan Productions. Tom Farrell is executive producer for Banyan. Kathy Davidov is executive producer for TLC.